Bowling ball return track system

ABSTRACT

A track system for bowling ball return in bowling alleys including a limitedly resilient track mounting for accommodating the shocks of ball bounce during return.

[ Sept. 25, 1973 United States Patent [191 Miller BOWLING BALL RETURN TRACK SYSTEM 845,238 2/1907 Johnson................,......... 238/284 x Inventor: Robert A. Miller, 987 Linden Ave.,

South San Francisco, Calif. 06050 I Primary Exammer-Anton O. Oechsle Flledl y 1972 Attorney-Alvin E. Hendricson et al. Appl. No.: 258,325

[ ABSTRACT A track system for bewling ball return in bowling alleys including a limitedly resilient track mounting for ac- [52] US. Cl. 273/47 [5i] Int Cl A63d 1/08 [58] Field of Search..... 273/43 R, 43 A, 47,

273/48, 49, ll R, 11 C; 193/38, 39, 40; 238/284 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS commodating the shocks of ballb ounce during return.

.. 273/47 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 709,163 9/l902 Lahr PMEMEB EM 3.761.086

FIG.l

FIGB BOWLING BALL RETURN TRACK SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION There have been developed and widely employed automated bowling systems which may include automated pin setters, pin indicators and ball return mecha: nisms. While systems of this type are relatively troublefree, it has been found, at least in many instances, that the majority of breakdowns occur in the ball return mechanism. Ball return is normally accomplished below the floor of the bowling alley and commonly includes a downsweep, which may incorporate an accelerator belt, a return track and some type of slowdown mechanism at or adjacent the bowling station. The return track is commonly mounted in a concrete trough extending alongside each lane beneath the floor.

Normally bowling balls have one or more finger holes therein and it will be appreciated that a finger hole has the same effect as a flat spot on the ball when the hole rolls over a rail or track or thelike. This then causes the ball to bounce. A sixteen pound ball, for example, moving at many feet per second has a very large momentum and bouncing of the ball causes multiple heavy blows to be struck by the ball. This results in bending and breaking of ball return tracks, which necessitates closing of the lane associated with the damaged return and may also cause damage to bowling balls for which th bowling alley operator is normally liable.

The present invention provides an improved bowling ball return track which limits bowling ball vibration or bounce and accommodates same without damage to the track structure. Additional the present invention provides a self-aligning system to thereby minimize the problems of installation and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a bowling ball track of simple structure and very rugged construction. This alone however, is not sufficient to protect the track from damage by the pounding of highspeed bowling balls that may bounce or vibrate while rolling along the length thereof. The present invention incorporates a particular type of resilient track mounting which accommodates limited track movement under impact so that the majority of the force of successive blows applied thereto is absorbed in the resilient mounting rather than in a rigid structure of the track itself.

The present invention additionally provides the feature of self-alignnent during installation. The particular mode of construction employed herein allows initial set-up of the return track without the necessity of fixing the parts thereof in relative position. The track may then be employed by rolling bowling balls therealong at normal speed so that the balls themselves align the track. After alignment certain portions of the structure are then fixed with respect to each other as by welding.

DESCRIPTION or FIGURES The present invention is illustrated as to a particular preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a bowling ball return track system incorporating the present invention and also generally illustrating other elements of an overall automated system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken in the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing one support unit of the track system in vertical section;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the connection of elements of the track support system; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken in the plane 4-4 of FIG. 2 and illustrating mounting of the system hereof to a concrete base.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1 there will be seen to be generally illustrated therein a portion of a bowling alley with a lane indicated by the numeral 11 and the pins by the numeral 12. After a bowling ball 13 has been rolled down the alley to strike the pins 12, automatic ball return means 14 returns the ball to the head of the lane for repeated use. The ball return means 14 may include a driven friction belt 16 accelerating a ball onto a downsweep 17 leading to a return track 18 which extends alongside the lane 11 back to the bowling station. The present invention is directed to an improved structure of the return track 18.

Considering now the return track of the present invention, it is first noted that conventionally in automated bowling systems the return track is located below the horizontal level of the alley beneath the flooring. Commonly there is provided alongside of each bowling lane a sunken concrete trough 21, as indicated in FIG. 2. In accordance with the present invention there are provided a pair of parallel disposed tracks, preferably in the form of iron pipes 22 and 23, extending longitudinally of the trough 21 and carried by a plurality of support means 24 spaced apart along the track. Considering now a single support. means 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there will be seen to be provided a flat bottom plate 31 resting upon the bottom of the trough 21 and secured thereto by concrete mounting bolts 32. Upon this bottom plate 31 there is placed a flat upper plate 33 which carries a pair of upright threaded studs 34 and 34'. The upper plate 33 is welded or. otherwise firmly secure-d to the lower plate 31, as indicated at 36.

Considering now the right hand stud 34 as viewed in FIG. 3, it will be seen that this stud. is threaded into the lower plate and firmly secured thereto as by welding so that the stud extends perpendicularly upward of the plate in fixed relation thereto. A compression spring 37 is disposed about the stud 34 with a washer 38 atop the spring.

The rails or pipes 22 and 23 are carried upon a support plate 41 which is preferably formed with a pair of horizontal outerportions 42 and 42 connected by a depressed central portion 43. The support plate 41 has an aperture 44-44 in each of the horizontal end portions 42-42 and located to fit the support plate over the upright studs 34-34. As shown in FIG. 3, the diameter of the support plate opening 44 is made larger than the diameter of the upright stud 34 and a collar 45 may be disposed atop the washer 38 about the stud to engage the underside of the flat portion 42 of the support plate 41. Atop the support plate there is provided a washer 46 and a pair of nuts 47 and 48 are threaded onto the stud above this washer. It will be seen that by tightening the nut 47 the support plate may be pressed down against the spring 37 andthe lock nut 48 provides for maintaining this condition.

There is additionally provided as a portion of the track system hereof a pair of tubes or fods 51 and 52 extending longitudinally of the track and secured to the support plates 41 on opposite sides of the central depressions 43 thereof. The vertical spacing between the pipes or rails 22-23 and the tubes 5152 is slightly greater than the diameter of a bowling ball so that the tubes are thus located just above the center line of the ball when it rests upon the rails. Additionally the tubes 51 and 52 are spaced radially from the ball a short distance such as, for example, an eighth of an inch. The purpose of the tubes 51 and 52 is to restrain the ball from moving appreciably upward from the rails. The restraining tubes 51 and 52 are preferably welded to the metal support plate 41 at the upper edges of the central depression in the support plate and the rails or pipes 22 and 23 are welded to the support plate at the outer edges of the lower portion of the depression 43. The relative location of rails retaining tubes and ball is best illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. It is to be noted that the manner of securing the rails or pipes to the support plate must be quite permanent and thus it is preferable for the rails or pipes to be welded to the support plate on both sides of the rails, as indicated in the drawing.

Considering now the installation ofa system in accordance with the present invention, it is noted that a pair of studs 34-34 are joined to each of the upper plates 33 and the bottom plates of successive mounting means are secured in spaced relation to the bottom of the concrete trough 21 in line along the trough. Sections of track, including rails 2223, restraining tubes or rods 51-52, and support plates 41 are assembled. Springs 37-37 are placed about each of the studs with washers and spacers above the springs and sections of track are then placed on the studs by lowering the support plate onto the studs to thus rest on the spacer above the coiled springs. The upper plates 33 are not yet welded to the lower plates so that separate sections of track may be joined together by plugs fitting into the adjacent ends of the pipes forming the rails and tubes. With the ends of the track secured to ball entry and exit means, balls are then rolled along the track to align it. After alignment the upper and lower plates are welded v together. On each stud there is then placed the washer and nuts 47 and 48 to tighten the support plate against the springs 37 and 37'.

In use a ball is rolled along the return track of the present invention, usually at a considerable velocity. Any tendency of the ball to bounce, either because of the manner it is originally introduced onto the track or because of a finger hole engaging a rail during rolling of the ball, will cause the ball to strike blows to the track which, in accordance with the present invention, are absorbed by the resilient track mounting. Vibration or oscillation of the track hereof is substantially precluded by preventing the support plates from moving upwardly from normal position. The support plates can only move downwardly from normal position by compressing the springs 3737' but are prevented from moving upwardly from this normal position by the nuts 47 and lock nuts 48 on the studs 34-34. It is also noted that the restraining tubes or rods 51-52 prevent the bowling ball 13 from bouncing more than a fraction of an inch from the rails of the system.

Although conventional bowling ball return tracks suffer from repeated breakdown owing to the breaking of rods, rails and support structure, a system in accordance with the present invention has been found to have an extended life without malfunction. The present invention thus provides a material improvement in automated bowling systems and substantially eliminates the major cause of breakdown therein.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to a single preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variations may be made within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling ball return track comprising a pair of parallel rails spaced apart to accommodate a bowling ball rolling therealong,

a plurality of rail mounting means spaced apart along the length of said rails and each including a rigid support plate secured to each rail and resilient means beneath the support plate and carrying the plate with means limiting movement of the resilient means, and

restraining means extending parallel to said rails and above the rails for limiting movement of a bowling ball upwardly from the track.

2. The track of claim 1 further defined by the support plate of each of said mounting means having aligned outer ends with a depressed central portion, said rails being connected to said plate at said central plate portion and said restraining means being connected to said plate adjacent the junction of central plate portion and plate ends, and said plate engaging said resilient means at the plate ends.

3. The track of claim 1 further defined by said rail mounting means including a pair of upright studs fixed at the bottoms thereof and extending through openings in opposite ends of the support plate, said resilient means comprising a pair of coil springs disposed one about each stud beneath the support plate, and means engaging said studs above said plate and contacting the plate to limit upward movement of the plate.

4. Mounting means for a bowling ball return track having a pair of parallel rails upon which a ball rolls, comprising a pair of upright studs adapted for rigid mounting in parallel spaced relation, a rigid support plate rigidly secured to the underside of said rails in extension transversely therefrom and having an opening through opposite ends through which said studs extend, a coil spring disposed about each stud beneath said support plate and carrying the plate, and a pair of nuts threaded on the top of each stud and bearing upon the support plate for tightening the plate against the springs and locking the plate against upward movement from the tightened position. 

1. A bowling ball return track comprising a pair of parallel rails spaced apart to accommodate a bowling ball rolling therealong, a plurality of rail mounting means spaced apart along the length of said rails and each including a rigid support plate secured to each rail and resilient means beneath the support plate and carrying the plate with means limiting movement of the resilient means, and restraining means extending parallel to said rails and above the rails for limiting movement of a bowling ball upwardly from the track.
 2. The track of claim 1 further defined by the support plate of each of said mounting means having aligned outer ends with a depressed central portion, said rails being connected to said plate at said central plate portion and said restraining means being connected to said plate adjacent the junction of central plate portion and plate ends, and said plate engaging said resilient means at the plate ends.
 3. The track of claim 1 further defined by said rail mounting means including a pair of upright studs fixed at the bottoms thereof and extending through openings in opposite ends of the support plate, said resilient means comprising a pair of coil springs disposed one about each stud beneath the support plate, and means engaging said studs above said plate and contacting the plate to limit upward movement of the plate.
 4. Mounting means for a bowling ball return track having a pair of parallel rails upon which a ball rolls, comprising a pair of upright studs adapted for rigid mounting in parallel spaced relation, a rigid support plate rigidly secured to the underside of said rails in extension transversely therefrom and having an opening through opposite ends through which said studs extend, a coil spring disposed about each stud beneath said support plate and carrying the plate, and a pair of nuts threaded on the top of each stud and bearing upon the support plate for tightening the plate against the springs and locking the plate against upward movement from the tightened position. 